ABC – Ignorant, fearful or biased journalism?

Human Rights, Israel / Palestine, Media, Politics

ABC – Ignorant, fearful or biased journalism?

Aug 24, 2024

Fact versus opinion road sign. Image: iStock/ Maria Vonotna

Having just read journalist John Lyons’ book Balcony Over Jerusalem, I’m acutely aware of the ways in which the pro-Israeli Lobby in Australia exerts its influence on the media here to disparage journalists and their work and to even try to have them removed from their positions, if this lobby deems there is adverse critique of Israel.

Is that why Patricia Karvelas and Steve Kinnane on the ABC Radio National AM program choose words of clarification that either suspend or diminish acknowledgement that genocide is happening in Gaza? Do they want to avoid a complaint by the Zionist Federation of Australia?

Karvelas typically chooses to comment after an interview where “genocide” in Gaza has been mentioned, with words like “the UN has not made a specific finding of genocide” (ABC RN AM Tuesday 16 July), while on AM on 12 August Steve Kinnane commented “At the moment genocide is a term that is contested”.

When I hear these comments I want to ask “What on earth do you mean?” I think, “These are not comments made impartially or to inform.”

So where and how do these comments originate? Are they the journalists’ own, or are they following ABC guidelines?

They certainly do not emanate from the International Court of Justice interim ruling this year, nor from two UN special rapporteur reports and certainly not from any human rights reports I could find such as The University Network for Human Rights.

International Court of Justice (ICJ) interim report

The ICJ in its interim report on 26 January this year concluded that it was plausible that at least some of the actions South Africa alleges that Israel has committed in Gaza, seem to fall within the provisions of the (Genocide) Convention.

I wonder why these two journalists do not refer to this report for their clarifying comments.

UN Special Rapporteur report on the right to food

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, reported in February 2024 that, “Intentionally depriving people of food is clearly a war crime. Israel has announced its intention to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part, simply for being Palestinian. In my view as a UN human rights expert, this is now a situation of genocide. This means the state of Israel in its entirety is culpable and should be held accountable – not just individuals or this government or that person.”

I wonder why this UN report has not persuaded these journalists or their employer to refer to it for their explanatory comments.

UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestinian territories

The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, reported in March 2024 that, “By analysing the patterns of violence and Israel’s policies in its onslaught on Gaza, this report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met. One of the key findings is that Israel’s executive and military leadership and soldiers have intentionally distorted jus in bello principles, subverting their protective functions, in an attempt to legitimise genocidal violence against the Palestinian people.”

Another report that seemingly failed to impress these journalists or their employer to use for their explanatory comments – that’s three reports in quick succession that refer to genocide.

The University Network for Human Rights

Nor did these journalists or the ABC get their ideas from human rights reports that abound concerning the situation in Gaza – reports such as Genocide in Gaza Analysis of International Law and its Application to Israel’s Military Actions Since October 7 produced in May 2024 by the University Network for Human Rights. It concluded, “Specifically, Israel has committed genocidal acts of killing, causing serious harm to, and inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza, a protected group that forms a substantial part of the Palestinian people.”

So have these journalists and the ABC succumbed to pro-Israeli pressure? Are they ignorant, or are they and their employer just plain biased? The recent P & I article Zionist bullying distorts politics, media and education by Stuart Rees and Greg Barns (10 August) has relevance.

Whatever the answer, the Palestinians of Gaza and the fearless pursuit for truth lose out and the ABC’s reputation as a source of unbiased, fearless and reliable information is diminished.